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WellieWishers #3
The Riddle of the Robin
A robin has moved into the garden, and the WellieWishers couldn’t be more excited! As they care for the robin, they learn new things about what birds like to do and eat. But one day, the robin disappears! Will the girls be able to find the robin and his secret? Animal-lover Willa is on the case!
This story tells how Willa learns to take the lead and that things are not always what they seem! Includes fun activities for girls and parents to do together.
This story tells how Willa learns to take the lead and that things are not always what they seem! Includes fun activities for girls and parents to do together.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2016
About the author
Valerie Tripp
278 books474 followersValerie Tripp is a children's book author, best known for her work with the American Girl series.
She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.
Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.
She grew up in Mount Kisco, New York with three sisters and one brother. A member of the first co-educated class at Yale University, Tripp also has a M.Ed. from Harvard. Since 1985 she has lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her husband teaches history at Montgomery College.
Right out of college, Tripp started writing songs, stories, and nonfiction for The Superkids Reading Program, working with Pleasant Rowland, the founder of American Girl. For that series, Tripp wrote all the books about Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Molly, and Maryellen and many of the books about Samantha. She also wrote the "Best Friends" character stories to date, plays, mysteries, and short stories about all her characters.. Film dramatizations of the lives of Samantha, Felicity, Molly, and Kit have been based on her stories. Currently, Tripp is writing a STEM series for National Geographic and adapting Greek Myths for Starry Forest Publishing. A frequent speaker at schools and libraries, Tripp has also spoken at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, The New York Historical Society, and Williamsburg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 17, 2026
"Hurry and put on your wellies. I've got a surprise for you."Nature-loving Willa cannot wait to show her friends the first crocus of spring. Her friends (the WellieWishers) are suitably impressed but then they hear an even better sign of the season - a robin!
They quickly decide that they want to help out their new friend and bring a myriad of gifts - only things don't go to plan.
"Please stay. Welcome to the garden."
How will the WellieWishers make the robin feel at home?
"Why isn't the robin using any of our gifts? asked Camille sadly.
... "maybe there's something wrong with them," said Kendall.
While the last book just barely scraped its way into 4 stars, this one fully earned it. What can I say? I'm a sucker for nature books and Willa is quickly becoming my favorite of the WellieWishers.
I liked how the girls learned how to help the robin through trial and error, and how they easily pivoted when an idea didn't quite go to plan.
I thought the teachable nature moments were great - it was fun to see all the ways the girls found to care for the robin and keep the little birdie happy.
And I really, really enjoyed the section at the end which was aimed towards the parents - teaching different ways to feed the birds, feed yourselves "bird food", and craft birds as well. It's always so fun to see a book series go above and beyond to give cool activities to do with your little one!
May 12, 2020
"I like this book because it has a really pretty song in it. It goes like:
Sing us your song so sweet,
Song so sweet, song so sweet.
Sing us your song so sweet:
Too-wheet, too-wheet, too-wheet.
Sincee you're back we know it's spring,
Know it's spring, know it's spring.
Since you're back we know it's spring.
Too-wheet, too-wheet, too-wheet.
I also liked they made worm spaghetti with a side order of squished bugs and some nice icky beetles for dessert for the bird. I wouldn't eat it, but the bird liked it. They also made a little bird for it to splash and play in. A girl named Emerson shook and fluttered her arms and legs so much that one of her wellies flew off! Wellies are rainboots with a different name." -Cadee, age 7
Sing us your song so sweet,
Song so sweet, song so sweet.
Sing us your song so sweet:
Too-wheet, too-wheet, too-wheet.
Sincee you're back we know it's spring,
Know it's spring, know it's spring.
Since you're back we know it's spring.
Too-wheet, too-wheet, too-wheet.
I also liked they made worm spaghetti with a side order of squished bugs and some nice icky beetles for dessert for the bird. I wouldn't eat it, but the bird liked it. They also made a little bird for it to splash and play in. A girl named Emerson shook and fluttered her arms and legs so much that one of her wellies flew off! Wellies are rainboots with a different name." -Cadee, age 7
February 26, 2021
I rate this a 3.5/5 Stars 🌟
It was a super cute and easy read and I really enjoyed it. I just wanted a book I could read in one setting to get another book read this month.
It was a super cute and easy read and I really enjoyed it. I just wanted a book I could read in one setting to get another book read this month.
Read
November 10, 2025Fun read-along with my seven-year-old — great for her to read to me.
July 17, 2026
A sweet chapter book, with bright pictures on every page. The girls find a robin and do their best to become friends with her. The bird is missing from her regular tree, and they set out to find her.
Nature facts are slipped in, all throughout! For example, did you know robins won't eat birdseed?
There is a list of activities at the back of the book! Something to do outside, bird-snack ideas, a treat for yourselves, and a craft.
Nature facts are slipped in, all throughout! For example, did you know robins won't eat birdseed?
There is a list of activities at the back of the book! Something to do outside, bird-snack ideas, a treat for yourselves, and a craft.
January 4, 2018
My 5 year old daughter loved this book. It has lovely color illustrations and a rhyming song that's catchy for kids. The back of the book has some fun activities if you're interested and can't think of them yourself haha. My daughter loves the girls. The story line is very young and age appropriate.
November 14, 2020
This was a sweet little chapter book to read along side my 7 year old. We enjoyed the pictures and story and it was an easy one to take turns reading to eachother. We plan to read more WellieWishers together.
May 2, 2025
Such a cute little children's book😍
November 14, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this story, which isn't really a surprise: Willa is my favorite of the Wellie Wishers.
Like the other books in the series, this is a chapter book with artwork throughout. I feel like a six year old could read it, with some help from Mom or Dad. However, an eight year old could almost certainly read it alone.
I called this one a mystery because the girls have to figure out where their little robin friend went. Since it is a story for younger readers, the mystery is rather quickly resolved and everything is fine! However, I think kids - both boys and girls - could learn a lot about observing nature from reading this book. It might spark an interest in birding. As always, there's also a lesson in friendship. In this case, Willa learns that people don't just suddenly change - it happens for a reason! (I felt kind of bad for Emerson by the end of the book. Nothing went her way! Poor kid!)
Like the other books in the series, this is a chapter book with artwork throughout. I feel like a six year old could read it, with some help from Mom or Dad. However, an eight year old could almost certainly read it alone.
I called this one a mystery because the girls have to figure out where their little robin friend went. Since it is a story for younger readers, the mystery is rather quickly resolved and everything is fine! However, I think kids - both boys and girls - could learn a lot about observing nature from reading this book. It might spark an interest in birding. As always, there's also a lesson in friendship. In this case, Willa learns that people don't just suddenly change - it happens for a reason! (I felt kind of bad for Emerson by the end of the book. Nothing went her way! Poor kid!)
May 15, 2021
The Wellie Wishers are just too cute!
Willa finds a robin and unites with the Wellie-Wishers to try to make friends with it. But when the bird disappears there's a momentary panic until they find out what's really going on.
What I love about these books is they really do take some unexpected twists and turns. You never quite know where they're going to go next. Truly delightful, with some valuable lessons about nature so skillfully woven in you won't even realize just how much you're learning until you're done reading.
Willa finds a robin and unites with the Wellie-Wishers to try to make friends with it. But when the bird disappears there's a momentary panic until they find out what's really going on.
What I love about these books is they really do take some unexpected twists and turns. You never quite know where they're going to go next. Truly delightful, with some valuable lessons about nature so skillfully woven in you won't even realize just how much you're learning until you're done reading.
March 23, 2018
Willa and friends find a robin. Willa uses a nature book to identify the food it likes to eat (bugs and worms). Emerson accidently kicks her boot onto the play house. Later they can't find the robin. Willa uses a compass to get them back to the play house. The robin has built a nest in Emerson's boot and has 4 chicks. Ends with bird crafts.
Good combination of story and ending with nature activities children can do.
Good combination of story and ending with nature activities children can do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2023
The Riddle of the Robin: another sweet WellieWishers story. Nice examples of alliteration and onomatopoeia for kids. Willa and Emerson especially remind me of myself as a kid, so it's fun to see how they interact. Trying to find out why an animal is behaving strangely and learning it's because is not the most unique plot for a kid's story, but building on that for themes of understanding how someone is feeling and how to help them is a nice touch.
December 26, 2017
A charming book about the sweet Wellie Wishers! This story teaches great morals about understanding that people don't just change for no reason. And it also teaches you about the wonder of nature. Perfect for young girls who love a good friendship story! I liked it a lot, so did my little sister! A darling read!
February 9, 2019
This book is great for young kids. I try to read chapter books just to expand my little one’s attention span. But this is a great crossover because it still gives her colorful pictures to look at while listening to something longer than a storybook. Would definitely recommend for Pre-K and early readers!
February 15, 2018
Fun chapter book with the Wellie Wishers having an adventure in the garden with a new robin friend. We learned some interesting facts about robins while enjoying the friendship and fun of the Wellies.
March 17, 2024
I loved this book so much and it was a great read.
It really is a wonderful story and I loved how it came together with love.🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰
I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it.
🪺🪶🕊️🌱🍀
It really is a wonderful story and I loved how it came together with love.🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰
I really recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it.
🪺🪶🕊️🌱🍀
March 5, 2018
I love this series. My 5s do, too (my favorite part is how my son requests we read these frequently). There are beautiful pictures on almost every page. We like the characters.
January 29, 2020
My four year old says: "I love it! My favorite part was reading about Willa, my favorite character, and the baby birds. The art is pretty!"
March 7, 2020
The illustration are good, and Fiona seemed to like it, but this is stultifyingly boring to me. Nothing happens. They see a bird! For like a billion pages. Beverly Cleary has spoiled me. LOL
December 12, 2020
4 year old says "my favorite part was when she flung her boot on the roof."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2021
The books in this series are all so sweet; I enjoy reading them to my girls.
June 2, 2021
This one really hooked my little one!
October 19, 2022
Not as exciting as my 8yr old wanted it to be. Very simple storyline.
May 23, 2024
This is the first wellie wisher book that I didn’t hate. It’s cute, it teaches kids about nature, it’s slightly longer and more advanced. Overall pretty good.
January 11, 2025
Definitely kept the girl's interest.
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August 22, 2025Read with Ella 8/25
February 4, 2017
Short and sweet. Very enjoyable story with wonderful art.
February 7, 2017
I think this book was a great book because it teaches you to be really nice and kind
-Riley age 7
-Riley age 7
October 5, 2016
We got this as an advanced readers copy at work and I was more than happy to check it out. It's educational and it inspires young readers--especially girls--to go outside and explore, while also telling them they can be girly and silly. There are bright illustrations and songs throughout. It's a quick read that is fun and should inspire confidence to early readers. I don't know how quick I would be to read it again, but I'll look at the other books in the series when we get them.
For: readers wanting a book about friendship and the outdoors/nature; early readers who want a book with illustrations to aid the narrative.
Possible red flags: scary bird attack; grumpy friends.
For: readers wanting a book about friendship and the outdoors/nature; early readers who want a book with illustrations to aid the narrative.
Possible red flags: scary bird attack; grumpy friends.
August 15, 2022
This installment is rather blah and predictable. Still, like the other books, it is educational, includes funny puns, and shows the girls making up new song lyrics to familiar tunes. I like how this series models and inspires creativity with language, and kids will learn some about birds from this story. There is also a parent's note with discussion and activity ideas at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews